National Republican., 1887-08-29
The Election In Virginia.

The Election In Virginia.
Virgiulans, there should he no mistake as
to what the election in Virginia means this
year. Last year the revolt against D"nI-
cratic ideas resulted III the defeat Of thit
party by over twerty thousand votes.
This majority of twenty thousand marked
the disgust Of the people with free triie
Democracy congrcssn-n wno de-
liberately assisted In making free ira 'r
81 eaker OF the House OF Representative
who assisted by so doing Ia defettint IN
repeal Of the to acco tax, and the rem
Of tue tax on fruit dlstildtiDn -ylJ h,.
sisted In defeating the Blair educational
bill-who voted for reduction OF tue
tariff.
The people repudiated the Democratic
representatives who did these things.
The shrewd Democratic leaders wh) pre-.
pared the Roanoke platform ia WAshing-
ton knew what this meant Tnat 1t .nat tnt
defeat now aud In 1883. So they prepare
platform which repudiated the action Of
the Democratic members OF the forty
ninth Congress, just as the people hal re
pudiated the congressman them selves.
But the people will not trust this lyiuI
platform. They know tnat it is uhslfe 60
trust the repeal Of the tobacco tax, tns re-
moval OF the tax on fruit distillsttou, the
passage OF the Blair bill, or the principle pi
protection to Democrats in Congress.
The people of Virginia know that the
pledges of Virginia Democratic platform
mean nothing; that Virginia Democrats
once in power, violate these pledges with
out hesitation and without scruple, ant
they know that the legislature 10 be elected
now has the selection of a United States
senator.
There is but one possible chance the
Democrats have to secure a majority OF
that legislature, and that is the chance OF
dissepsion among the leaders of the Repub
lican party.
The rank and file OF the Republican party
are solidly right and thousands of Deno.
Gratis are ready to vote with them to secure
legislation they cannot again trust Demo-
cracts to give them.
A Democratic majority in the Virginia
legislature means another Democrat in the
United States Senate to vote with Beck
and Morgan and Colqutt for free trade and
the tobacco tax. 1t means another Demo-
cratic senator to oppose the Blair bill.
1t may mean more than this. II may
mean Democratic majority In the United
States Senate after the 4th OF March, 1889.
A Republican majority IN the Virginia
legislature means Republican senator
and 1t may mean great deal more. With
tat. L.. Al, ~.
column, as the leader OF the southern
states In favor Of the American policy OF
protection, in favor Of Republican ideas, a
Nirginiun would almost necessarily be
placed second on the Republic IN national
ticket.
The prize is worth winnlng-a settled
Republican policy for the state-a United
States senator, the vice presidency OF the
| United States, surely these are incentive.
enough to secure unity OF action aud that
determination which leads to victory.
AS stated before, the only possibility by
which these prizes can be lost, and the leg
islature be made Democratic, seems to bl
the fears of some Republican lea lers tha
others besides themselves may profit By
Republican victory.
Away with such childllshness; let every
Virginisu, opposed to Bourbon rule
opposed to Bourbon methods, IL
favor OF protection to Aneric IN lab )r
and capital in favor Of the repeal Of the
tobacco tax; in favor Of the Blair educa
tioIal bill in favor of the restoration o
the credit Of the state by an equitable ad
| ngtp pF hn tat A.h In, ~,
building up Virginia into great and pros
porous state, unite and work heartily t,
secure legislature composed of busines
men who lave the sense and determination
TO do these things, and that will not sen,
a Bourbon to the United States Senate, bu
man that will represent Virginia as I
should be, not as it is.
The Republicans who aspire to leadership
and Office and who, through jealousy o
each other, may cause a B)urbln victory
should remember that well known fable O
how the substance was lost by grasping a
the shadow.
1t is alike creditable and honorable T.
aspire to a seat In the United States Senate
the highest deliberatiye body on earth
Let every Virginia Republican who has sue
ambition show his worthiness and his clain
for recognition from Republicans by doiny
his utmost, In all honorable ways, to elec
Republican legislature. Having don
this let him submit his name to Repub
can caucus and abide the result. Thos
who appear to he foremost now may not
In the race. But q few mouths since Ill
| lamtntpl IOUan Was rapognizel ne atanf
ing in the front rank Of candidates for th
) Presidency in 1888. Men die, unsee
forces operate to change mans destinie
but the Republican party will live so Ion
as republican institutions survive and wi
require men to represent and enforce Il
principles Then let the Republicans ever
where remember, in the great contest befo
us, the adage that "United We stand, d
, yided We fall"